This seminar will focus on a range of explanations offered for intensive
conflict between major powers. Particular emphasis will be placed on
economic and politico-military power distributions, commercial rivalry, and
domestic politics with an eye toward integrating hitherto separate models.
The main rationale is that if there is to be intensive conflict among major
powers, by no means a sure thing, we can probably best fathom why it might
come about by examining past occurrences. But this is an assumption that
also needs to be examined. Finally, a specific application of the abstract
materials will be made in the context of East Asian developments and future
possibilities for China's interactions with the rest of the world (and vice
versa).